Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 110 Part 6.djvu/260

 110 STAT. 4082 PUBLIC LAW 104-332—OCT. 26, 1996 "(A) IN GENERAL.—The Task Force, in cooperation with the Secretary, shall conduct ecological surveys of the Chesapeake Bay, San Francisco Bay, and Honolulu Harbor and, as necessary, of other estuaries of national significance and other waters that the Task Force determines— "(i) to be highly susceptible to invasion by aquatic nuisance species resulting from ballast water operations and other operations of vessels; and "(ii) to require further study. "(B) REQUIREMENTS FOR SURVEYS.—In conducting the surveys under this paragraph, the Task Force shall, with respect to each such survey— "(i) examine the attributes and patterns of invasions of aquatic nuisance species; and "(ii) provide an estimate of the effectiveness of ballast water management and other vessel management guidelines issued and regulations promulgated under this subtitle in abating invasions of aquatic nuisance species in the waters that are the subject of the survey. " (2) BALLAST WATER DISCHARGE SURVEYS.— "(A) IN GENERAL.— The Secretary, in cooperation with the Task Force, shall conduct surveys of ballast water discharge rates and practices in the waters referred to in paragraph (1)(A) on the basis of the criteria under clauses (i) and (ii) of such paragraph. "(B) REQUIREMENTS FOR SURVEYS.—In conducting the surveys under this paragraph, the Secretary shall— "(i) examine the rate of, and trends in, ballast water discharge in the waters that are the subject of the survey; and "(ii) assess the effectiveness of voluntary guidelines issued, and regulations promulgated, under this subtitle in altering ballast water discharge practices to reduce the probability of accidental introductions of aquatic nuisance species. "(3) COLUMBIA RIVER.—The Secretary, in cooperation with the Task Force and academic institutions in each of the States affected, shall conduct an ecological and ballast water discharge survey of the Columbia River system consistent with the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2)."; and (4) by adding at the end the following new subsections: "(e) REGIONAL RESEARCH GRANTS. —Out of amounts appropriated to carry out this subsection for a fiscal year, the Under Secretary may— "(1) make available not to exceed $750,000 to fund research on aquatic nuisance species prevention and control in the Chesapeake Bay through greuits, to be competitively awarded and subject to peer review, to universities and research institutions; "(2) make available not to exceed $500,000 to fund research on aquatic nuisance species prevention and control in the Gulf of Mexico through grants, to be competitively awarded and subject to peer review, to universities and research institutions; "(3) make available not to exceed $500,000 to fund research on aquatic nuisance species prevention and control for the

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